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A bottle of shower gel is covered in all sorts of text: hypoallergenic, mild, suitable for sensitive skin. A term that is increasingly appearing among them is soap-free. But what does that actually mean, and is it different from regular shower gel? In this blog, we explain what soap-free means and who it is relevant for.
What does soap-free actually mean?
Traditional soap is made through a chemical process called saponification: fats react with an alkali, and the result is a product with a relatively high pH value, usually between 9 and 10. Your skin naturally has a much lower, slightly acidic pH value, usually between 4.5 and 5.5.
Soap-free cleansers are not made through this saponification process. Instead, they use other cleansing agents, often synthetic surfactants that can remove dirt and grease, but at a pH value closer to that of your skin. That is immediately the most important difference: not the cleansing action itself, but the pH value at which that action takes place.
Why pH value matters for your skin
Your skin has a natural protective layer, also known as the acid mantle. This layer retains moisture and forms a barrier against external influences. The slightly acidic pH value of the skin is part of that.
A product with a pH value that deviates significantly from that of the skin, such as traditional soap, can temporarily disrupt this acid mantle. For healthy skin, it restores itself automatically, but for skin that is already vulnerable, such as with eczema, very dry skin, or skin that irritates easily, that disruptive effect can be greater and last longer.
Who is soap-free shower gel relevant for?
Soap-free shower gel is particularly interesting if:
- You have dry or very dry skin, and notice that your skin feels tight after showering
- You have eczema-prone or atopic skin
- You often suffer from redness or itching after washing
- You shower or cleanse your body several times a day, causing the skin to be exposed to the cleansing product more often
If you have no specific skin complaints, a soap-free formula is not necessarily essential, but it is a pleasant, mild choice.
4 soap-free products for sensitive skin
Dermolin Bath and Shower Gel
The Dermolin Bath and Shower Gel is hypoallergenic and pH-neutral, and specially developed for hypersensitive or atopic skin. The formula is free from soap, perfume, colorants, parabens, silicones, alcohol, and cocamidopropyl betaine. Also available in a 200 ml package.
Dexeryl Shower Shower Cream
The Dexeryl Shower Shower Cream cleanses, hydrates, and protects dry to very dry skin, and is suitable for skin prone to atopy. The formula contains no soap and no perfume. Also available in a larger 500 ml package.
Hyaderm Body Wash Sensitive
The Hyaderm Body Wash Sensitive is a soap-free shower gel that cleanses gently without drying out the skin, with a soft foam texture that feels pleasant.
Green People Shower Gel
The Green People Shower Gel is developed for sensitive and easily irritated skin. In addition to perfume and essential oils, the formula also contains no soap and no drying alcohol, and is enriched with aloe vera and prebiotics.
Finally
Soap-free says something about how a product is formulated, not how well it cleanses. For sensitive, dry, or eczema-prone skin, a soap-free, perfume-free shower gel can provide a noticeably more pleasant feeling than a traditional soap formula. View the full range of perfume-free shower gels on parfumvrij.nl.